The theft of farm kit is apparently growing in regularity and this fact is causing a lot of problems for both farmers and the companioes who provide their insurance. It has been newly reported that the rise in tractor theft has been three fold and that the stealing of other items is also on the rise. The farmers have to solve a double problem when this type of thing takes place. The initial problem is the harm that is done at the time of break in and the immediate impact that the theft of the machinery has on his capacity to carry out day to day duties. If the tractor is stolen and it is vital to the subsequent few days work, as it typically is, the farm can almost grind to a halt while a substitute is found. Added to this there is the additional cost in insurance premiums due to the claim that will follow the theft.
It is doubtful then whether drawing attention to the ease with which some of this equipment can be taken (see article on Country File) is ideal. Though it does alert the farming community who, up until now have been unaffected by any wrong doing to the problems and might encourage them to make their units resistant to attack it does seem to emphasise the potential to thieves at the same time. Of course the best way to prevent these situations is to improve your protection, install substancial doors such as the hangar Doors used in the aviation market, build storage sheds from steel or brick instead of the feeble wooden structures frequently seen, but all this requires money. The hanger door itself may cost in excess of �10,000 and the building, if substantial enough to hold off the most resolute of thieves, will be in the tens of thousands.
It is to be hoped that the reports stressing the situation do not make the circumstances worse rather leaving the farming sector with the ability to protect itself as best it can without an influx of opportunist thieves creating havoc and spoiling spring and summer planning on a lot of UK farms.
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